Tribune Tavern

Oakland’s new go-to after-work spot has struck gold with a particular confluence of factors: the prominent location in Oakland’s business district, a meat-heavy menu tailor-made for the “brogrammer” set, great cocktails, and a dash of old-timey style. During happy hour, in particular, both the bar and dining room are packed to the gills with raucous groups of co-workers of various stripes. As for the food, Tribune Tavern’s classed-up reinterpretations of obscure (in the US) pub classics like Welsh rarebit and Irish colcannon won’t disappoint, and the Guilty Fries (topped with carnitas-style roasted pork) are the very definition of a crowd-pleaser. But it’s in the shareable small plates — asparagus topped with hard-boiled eggs and house-made pancetta, say, or silky and unctuous grilled oxtail — that the kitchen really shows its skill and creativity.